Micro Grow Report; 12/12FS, CFLs, 1 sqft, 3 strains

[mikeAKAsilas]

Just finished my first grow and thought I'd share the info I gathered for those who are curious.

The actual grow log is here.

Here's a copy of the info if you don't feel like clicking the link:
Intro:
First grow, so go easy. I'll be using a custom grow box.

Goal:
Small size, cheap, low power consumption, no smell, stealthy, an ounce total and dry, ~70 days from seed to harvest

Strains:
(A) AK-48 feminized from Nirvana
(B) Blue Mystic feminized from Nirvana
(C) Northern Lights Auto feminized from Nirvana (didn't mean to order the auto but whatever)

Cab size:
Less than 1 square foot and ~31 inches tall

Lights:
Different combinations of 26 Watt 6500K CFLs and 42 Watt 2700K CFLs

Method:
More or less 12/12 from seed

Medium:
Cheapo Lawn and Garden Organic Soil Mix in a 2 Gal SmartPot

Nutrients:
General Hydroponics Flora Series and pH control

Results:
The grow took 72 days from sprout to chop, except the Northern Lights was cut at 57 days.

Final weights:
Northern Lights: 9.1 grams
AK-48: 10.8 grams
Blue Mystic: 25.2 grams

Total weight adds up to just over an ounce and a half.

The chart below shows my watering schedule. The nutrient levels are in ml/gal and the water just indicates that it was just water or a flush. I used distilled water for the first half and RO for the second half, just happened to be what was available. I also flushed with black strap molasses at 1-2 tbl/gal

The next chart shows the environment conditions. The temperature and humidity was recorded once a day, during lights on, at different times each day. Night temps and humidity were pretty constant around 70*F and 70%RH. The lighting was a little crazy in the beginning because I added lights and heat stressed the plants so I backed off the light again.

The last chart is pretty straight forward and just shows the growth of each plant through the grow.

And here's a couple budporn pics for you. Enjoy!

You're welcome.

Thoughts?

 

[blynx]

Nice yield and great grow log thread!

Have you thought about trying to veg the plants for a bit before switching to 12/12?

 

[mikeAKAsilas]

Thanks! I really enjoy your grows as well! I definitely referred to them quite a bit throughout mine.

I have thought about it but being my first grow I wanted to keep them short so I wouldn't outgrow my box and not have to try LST or topping or anything without the experience of how they grow if you just let them go. Also, time was a bit of a factor, I wanted to be done around 70 days from the start.

The next grow will definitely be several weeks of veg with training before I switch. I'm not sure when I will start but I'll do another grow log when I do.

 

[JustPassinThru]

The next grow will definitely be several weeks of veg with training before I switch. I'm not sure when I will start but I'll do another grow log when I do.

Cant wait to see that one, the first one was great inspiration for me! thanks mike

 

[stihgnobevoli]

you got charts and everything huh? good grow man.

 

[gloryoskie]

45 grams first grow?
Jealous.

Just read the journal, well done.

You have plenty of height, I'm with Blynx,
to mess with longer veg time if practical.

 

[mikeAKAsilas]

Plus about a gram of this from the trimmings

First wash

Second wash

 

[Bonsai.Sensei]

The key to success, and i'm not simply talking about growing (since I don't have much experience there) is being well organized and keeping track of everything.. well, thats what the scientific method teaches us.

1. Define a question:
- Will I be able to grow in a 1 sqft with 136 Watt CFL and 12/12 from seed.

2. Gather information and resources (observe):
- Thats the research you have done on cannabis horticulture.

3. Form an explanatory hypothesis:
- Which is what you posted as your goal "Small size, cheap, low power consumption, no smell, stealthy, an ounce total and dry, ~70 days from seed to harvest"

4. Test the hypothesis by performing an experiment and collecting data in a reproducible manner:
- That would be your grow and the maizing way you kept track of your water/nutrient schedule, environmental conditions and height of grow in inches, as well as for your your final weight.

5. Analyze the data:
- This is where your paid attention to all of your data and made your charts.

6. Interpret the data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for new hypothesis:
- Now, seeing all of what you did, I assume you have already taken a close look at how your charts correlate and seen where there is room for improvement in your next grow.

7. Publish results:
- ICMAG readers thank you for doing so, well I know I do.

8. Retest (frequently done by other scientists):
- Keep on growing.

That said, you could say you are a scientist, a cannabis horticultural scientist.

Just to finish off. Don't forget about other important aspects of the scientific method, all of which ICMAG is here for. I'll keep this one short.

Communication and community.
°Peer review evaluation:
-Documentation and replication.
-Archiving.
-Data sharing.

I loved the way you kept track of those details and made all those charts, have you thought about breeding and/or doing side by side experimental grows? Being that well organized would be very useful.

I will be definitely be following you in your future grows.

 

[mikeAKAsilas]

Thanks Bonsai

The thought of breeding has crossed my mind for the future, right now I don't have the room to do it.

I'd definitely be up for doing some experimental/test grows and have a couple ideas of methods myself I'd like to give a try.

The next grow will likely be something else simple just do I can get some experience with training the plants a little more.

 

[Gelado`]

Amazing results for such a small, simple setup. Props!

 

[UncleCrab]

Congrats- Great grow! Have you thought about trying LED's in that box? Could boost your light levels and still keep

 

[UncleCrab]

... the heat under control. (Sorry about the double post- fingers slipped)

 

[Chloemobile]

Very nice. I was skeptical of the weights until I saw the plants. They bulked up well for CFL and a 2 gallon pot.